Toulon forward Steffon Armitage appeared in court in France on Tuesday to deny a charge of assault, insisting he could not recall the alleged incident due to being heavily inebriated.

Armitage was arrested last month after an incident in Toulon in December.

The 29-year-old - last year's European Player of the Year - apologised for being drunk in public but reiterated his defence that he could not recall the events of that evening.

"I contest the charges against me. I do not remember anything," he said in court, in quotes widely reported by international media.

"I was really drunk and feel that I unintentionally fell on the victim, thus injuring him but without doing it intentionally.

"One thing is for certain, I very much regret being drunk; I'm a professional player and as such must set an example."

Armitage's version of events was contradicted in court by the alleged victim's lawyer.

French prosecutors have requested a five or six month suspended sentence for the England international, who has not been picked for his country since moving to France due to the RFU's policy on selecting overseas players.